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Metrics, baselines and targets established by the Co-Neutrals for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services pursuant to the compromise and settlement agreement in D.G. v. Henry.

Metrics, Baselines and Targets Established by the Co-NeutralsFor the Oklahoma Department of Human Services
Pursuant to the Compromise and Settlement Agreement in D.G. v. Henry
1. Abuse/Neglect of Children in the Legal Custody of OKDHS
The State of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) and Plaintiffs agree that children in the legal custody of OKDHS should be safe. For the purposes of OKDHS’ reporting on these metrics, the Co-Neutrals determine that “children in the legal custody of OKDHS” include children who are in placement and children living in their own homes but for whom a court has ordered OKDHS to assume legal responsibility. Children in the legal custody of OKDHS may reside in various types of placement settings including but not limited to kinship homes, foster homes (including contracted, therapeutic, shelter host and emergency foster homes), adoptive homes and a range of institutional settings (shelters, group homes, residential treatment, etc.). This also includes children who reside in, or have been placed back in their homes of origin but who remain the legal responsibility of OKDHS. To meet the parties’ goals, the metrics must include children in all of these settings, whether in home or in out-of-home settings.
Moreover, most children who have been removed from their homes of origin engage in visitation with their parents. Research shows that robust parent-child visitation is important to help children achieve permanency and well-being. The parties agree that children should also be safe from abuse or neglect during visitation.
In assessing child safety in custody, it is important to distinguish between repeat abuse/neglect by a parent versus abuse/neglect by a foster parent, kinship parent, or institutional staff person (whom we shall refer to as resource caregivers below). Both types of abuse/neglect are important to track, but as the potential remedies are different, the Co-Neutrals shall assess and monitor the two categories – resource caregiver and parent - separately.
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Metrics, Baselines and Targets Established by the Co-NeutralsFor the Oklahoma Department of Human Services
Pursuant to the Compromise and Settlement Agreement in D.G. v. Henry
1. Abuse/Neglect of Children in the Legal Custody of OKDHS
The State of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) and Plaintiffs agree that children in the legal custody of OKDHS should be safe. For the purposes of OKDHS’ reporting on these metrics, the Co-Neutrals determine that “children in the legal custody of OKDHS” include children who are in placement and children living in their own homes but for whom a court has ordered OKDHS to assume legal responsibility. Children in the legal custody of OKDHS may reside in various types of placement settings including but not limited to kinship homes, foster homes (including contracted, therapeutic, shelter host and emergency foster homes), adoptive homes and a range of institutional settings (shelters, group homes, residential treatment, etc.). This also includes children who reside in, or have been placed back in their homes of origin but who remain the legal responsibility of OKDHS. To meet the parties’ goals, the metrics must include children in all of these settings, whether in home or in out-of-home settings.
Moreover, most children who have been removed from their homes of origin engage in visitation with their parents. Research shows that robust parent-child visitation is important to help children achieve permanency and well-being. The parties agree that children should also be safe from abuse or neglect during visitation.
In assessing child safety in custody, it is important to distinguish between repeat abuse/neglect by a parent versus abuse/neglect by a foster parent, kinship parent, or institutional staff person (whom we shall refer to as resource caregivers below). Both types of abuse/neglect are important to track, but as the potential remedies are different, the Co-Neutrals shall assess and monitor the two categories – resource caregiver and parent - separately.
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